What Is Happening To Local Gun Shows?

[Xfuzz]

Gun shows every weekend in Texas...way too many.
Some of these promoters seem to draw the line for
vendors at washers and dryers.

At a small 300 table show near half will be non-gun/knife junk.

 

[mike4sigs]

The big Louisville and Indy gun shows in the 80s thru mid 90s were great. You could go to one of those with $200 and come out with an SKS and a thousand rounds of steel core ammo. They had all that WW2 stuff (you know what I mean). Powder and primers were cheap. I haven’t been for years.

Gunbroker ruined gun shows for me. Yeah, you’re going to pay too much, usually. And the fees stink. But I can always find what I want.

The little local shows are for amateurs and scalpers.

the Indy 1500 was the bees knees pre covid.
My Nephew wanted me to go with him to the November 1500 so meet him there it is less than half what it used to be. Probably won't be making the 2-hour trip to do it again.
and my opinion of what happen to gun shows is what we are talking to each other on Internet

 

[TX-Dennis]

I haven't been to a show in years. There are several per year here run by a couple of different outfits. Earlier this month I decided to go take a look at a local show until I read the admission price. $15. Last one I went to was $6 - same outfit. They did offer a $1 discount if you showed an NRA card.

Even years back the local shows were half full of jewelry, jerky, jelly, hot sauce, and misc. trinkets.

 

[31FordA]

The Oaks show is the old Valley Forge Convention Center show (only with a better parking lot).

That Valley Forge parking lot built character. Every time I left having avoided an accident I felt like I accomplished something. Hiking up that slope to my car was great cardio too.

Oaks is a better facility, but I hate having to drive on 422. I left the show one Friday in a snow storm and spent over three hours crawling down 422 to 202.

 

[boykinlp]

I didn’t read all the posts here, so someone else may have already brought this up. The thing that I find nuts about some of the shows around me are the folks that pay to set up multiple tables, and nothing is really for sale. I mean there may be sales prices listed or not, but they are purposely high so their guns won’t sell. It’s basically a “show and tell” thing.

I must admit though that about 20 years ago, a fellow did this and had about 50 guns including first generation Colt SAAs, S&W Registered Magnums, and other extremely rare guns. Just being able to see some of these was exciting.
Larry

 

[375hh1973]

The next time I find myself needing:

Axe handles
Purses
Candied Almonds
Jerky
Coins
Hot Sauce
Old books on how to overthrow the govt
Grampas old over-priced pump 12ga

I will head to the gunshow.

 

[Eddietruett]

The thing I don't like about gunshows is that dealers will make low ball offers to private sellers before the show. Then, they'll put it on their table with a huge mark up or sell it at another show. That left a bad taste with me. I understand, capitalism in action. If the buyer and seller are happy with the transaction then, great!

That being said, if I'm selling my stuff, I'm not selling to dealer with a low ball offer just for them to make a profit off of me. If there's a profit to be made, it's going to be me, not them.

If a dealer is going to low ball me, especially if they won't work with me on something they have that I desire, I tell them I want retail for my stuff. Now, if a collector or noob is willing to haggle, I'll give them a screaming deal. Or I'll go home with my stuff.

But since I don't/won't go to gunshows, and I don't want to part with any more of my milsurps, it doesn't matter.

Like I always say; Gun guys are socialists when we want to buy and capitalists when we want to sell.

If I sell a gun to an individual or a dealer and get a price I’m happy with, I don’t care one bit if he takes it and makes a profit. I figure if I got my price and he makes something then he is probably going to come back and buy more.

 

[Rat458]

Only been to two and was not impressed.
Same stuff I can get at the local flea market .
Of course our laws dont make it worthwhile because you can not buy a gun and leave with it.
I did find a case for one of my ham radio HT at a holster table though.

 

[Kinman]

I can remember about ten years ago when I went to the last decent gun show locally, they took up all three buildings at the county fairgrounds. I knew something was wrong when they had one building set aside for crafters and junk dealers, clothes, etc. That was the beginning of the end.

 

[GypsmJim]

I have been going to local Western NY shows for probably 25 years. We see a certain amount of food stuffs and purses and lady stuff, but that's good since the wife has no problem going with me.

I go for the fun of it. Last week's show I pointed out to my wife a rifle on sale for $695, and explained that I have one just like it (although in better condition) that I bought at Woolworth's for 12 bucks.

I bought a new rifle each of the last 2 years. The price was a couplabucks more than I could have bought online, but adding shipping and FFL charges it was cheaper at the show. Plus, the seller reduced the price by the sales tax amount.

One thing that has made local shows more enjoyable is that the Pistol Permit Departments at the 3 local Counties have set up booths at the show. So if you do buy a handgun it can be on your permit in minutes and you can take the gun home with no hassle.

As long as I can still drive, I'll keep going. Even if I don't buy anything it's a fun Sunday afternoon and the buffet brunch at the Greek Restaurant down the street is worth the trip anyway.

 

[Golddollar]

If I could only go back to the Columbus OGCA gun shows of the 1960s-70s.

Get Mr. Peabody to lend us his Wayback Machine and I'll go with you!

 

[Nevada Ed]

It is not just the "Gun shows".

I went down to my loacal Sporting goods store to stock up on all the new items that I saw, listed with super low prices, for the up coming fishing season.

None of the six items were on the wall or shelfs.

The help told me that the items will be sent to them, by the "Corpoate people"
when they think it is time to ship the stock to them, per last years data & sales.

Got to love how they take care of business, in these here, modern times.

 

[NYlakesider]

It is not just the "Gun shows".

I went down to my loacal Sporting goods store to stock up on all the new items that I saw, listed with super low prices, for the up coming fishing season.

None of the six items were on the wall or shelfs.

The help told me that the items will be sent to them, by the "Corpoate people"
when they think it is time to ship the stock to them, per last years data & sales.

Got to love how they take care of business, in these here, modern times.

Bean counters rule!

 

[xfarfuldog]

I have to disagree with some of the above responces. The two major gun shows near me were OGCA in Wilmington and Tri State gun collectors in Lima. OGCA was fairly strict on what was on the tables. Lima does allow some junk but still has four buildings of mostly guns. The main problems are the tables have VERY high prices. Some of the prices on combat tupperwareare are higher than a local gun store. And they are willing to come down maybe$ 25 on a $ 700 + gun.

Fortunately there are other smaller shows around. I purchased a nice third gen Smith on that big auction site a couple of weeks ago. Got a pretty decent deal until $ 130 was added for shipping, tax, and site fees. Plus my FFL dealers reasonable $15 for paperwork.

 

[ladder13]

Locally that being the Greensboro and Winston-Salem North Carolina area there's a gun show about every 3 months with the same old vendors the same old displays and not a lot of deals unreasonable prices and unreasonable selections

That Greensboro show was great until they stopped it. I only went one time and met a few forum members there. One being Charley Sides, a real class act. May he RIP.
Also met smitholdtimer and JayCeeNC, both good guys.
The Dixie show here at the State Fairgrounds is pretty good. Once in awhile a deal shows up.

 

[sjmjax]

I’ve been attending gun shows for quite a long time.
I’ve seen the changes as well.

Not easy to face it. But, many of the characters that made guns shows what they use to be are deceased.

Those individuals and businesses renting the tables now are mostly a different breed with different interests and motivations than those old timers from the past.

Somewhat like my recent post regarding the overwhelming popularity of 9mm.
(First post of mine that ever went to seven pages!)
Times and people change. Whether we like it or not.

 

[6string]

My main reason for going to gun shows has been to find reloading supplies and equipment.
But, when’s the last time you found powder or primers at a gun show that weren’t priced beyond ridiculous? And, you have to pay admission as well?
There’s a guy who sells estate-found reloading supplies. Why would I pay $100 for a partial box of primers or $60 for an opened can of powder, all of which has probably been stored the last 40 years in a hot, humid SC outbuilding?

Then again, I’ve met a few older guys cleaning out their stuff that’ll give you deals on items like shell holders, molds, dies. They got a lifetime of joy out it, like to chat a while, and are happy to find someone who even knows what the heck all that “weird stuff” they’re trying to sell even is!

Plus, my wife comes along and usually spends more money than me on earrings!

 

[Golddollar]

My main reason for going to gun shows has been to find reloading supplies and equipment.
But, when’s the last time you found powder or primers at a gun show that weren’t priced beyond ridiculous? And, you have to pay admission as well?
There’s a guy who sells estate-found reloading supplies. Why would I pay $100 for a partial box of primers or $60 for an opened can of powder, all of which has probably been stored the last 40 years in a hot, humid SC outbuilding?

I know exactly what you mean. I went to a gun show during the time when prices were nuts and saw a brick of primers with a sticker price of $300. My penchant for obscure knowledge recognized the vintage of the packaging and I knew for a certainly those primers were at least 35 years old. I didn't see anyone opening their wallet at that table.

 

[ladder13]

I would never buy an open can/container of powder.

 

[greenwellg]

I found some nice deals at Chantilly. Used to get there an hour early and do a quick scan then a more thorough walk through. Always watching for walk ins with some of the best deals done there. Even the last Hampton show surprised me with a K22 Masterpiece, not as nice as the first one I got this March, but that one is a safe queen. The second is a shooter. Garage sales of firearms have almost disappeared here. Prices at shows are getting too high, but auctions seem to have become the best opportunities but only occasionally. Estate sales are the best option now, got some perfect Snap On tools for 10 cents on a dollar a few years back, tripled my money selling them to a Snap On dealer.